Wyre Forest

Wyre Forest's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 98,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Wyre Forest increased by 1.0%, from almost 97,000 to 98,000.

The addition of almost 1,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wyre Forest was home to, on average, 3.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wyre Forest

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wyre Forest increased by four years, from 40 to 44 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 4,300 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 15% of people in Wyre Forest are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wyre Forest by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with adult children living with their parents

This area saw England's second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in Wyre Forest had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 11% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 29% to 26%.

The largest decrease occurred in Hinckley and Bosworth (from 11% to 9.7%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

This area saw the West Midlands' joint largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, alongside Cannock Chase.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.3% to 2.7%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) in Wyre Forest reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Wyre Forest remained close to 2.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Wyre Forest by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple increased in Wyre Forest, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the West Midlands, except Wychavon and Coventry.

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple, as the regional average grew from 7.9% to 9.6%.

In 2011, just over 1 in 10 (10%) households in Wyre Forest had an unmarried couple, compared with 9.4% in 2001. The percentage with just a single person increased from 27% to 30%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Wyre Forest that rented privately increased from 6.8% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in seven (14%) households lived in social housing, compared with 15% in 2001. The percentage of Wyre Forest households that owner their home decreased from 76% to 71%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 14% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Wyre Forest increased by 6.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Wyre Forest, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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